The Idaho Press partnered with the League of Women Voters of Idaho to publish this candidate survey.
Q: 1. What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
I will work to make Idaho a place where everyone has the opportunity to see their hard work translate to financial security and where every child has a bright future. I have seen the Legislature cater to special interests at the expense of Idahoans. I will be a voice for people who are marginalized in the political process. State lawmakers are shortsighted, neglecting investments that would save money down the road. I will advocate for wise investments that will allow our communities to thrive.
Q: 2. What experience has prepared you for this office?
I earned a B.A. in economics and a master’s in public affairs. I spent eight years studying issues in Idaho, including health care, education, child well-being, and fiscal policy. Whether I was advocating for Medicaid expansion or analyzing tax policy, I uncovered many opportunities to correct shortsighted decisions our state has made. I had the honor of being selected for appointment to this seat from a competitive field. I jumped in headfirst, proposing multiple bills in my first session.
Q: 3. What changes, if any, would you support related to state funding of public education?
School funding is inadequate and inequitable. Schools need more state resources so they can stop relying on supplemental levies for basic needs. We should allow school districts to collect impact fees from developers to cover building costs. Higher education helps Idahoans earn family-sustaining wages and supports our economy, but tuition remains a barrier, especially for students of color. We need to increase need-based scholarships so Idahoans can get the skills they need to thrive.
Q: 4. What do you see as Idaho’s prison system’s most important needs and and how would you address those?
When we invest early, we avoid costs later. Supporting the healthy development of our young children is proven to reduce involvement in the criminal justice system. We must also help people find success after incarceration. I co-sponsored the Fair Chance Employment Act to prevent employers from disqualifying job candidates with a record before reviewing their applications. I support sentencing reform and sealing records of non-violent offenses when people go three years without recommitting.
Q: 5. What do you see as Idaho’s most important healthcare system needs and how would you address those?
Our behavioral health care system is fragmented and under-resourced. Inadequate Medicaid services threaten our residents, particularly Idahoans with disabilities. Idaho must invest in the services and workforce pipeline that keep people healthy. The rate of uninsured children is growing. Allowing more kids to enroll in the Children’s Health Insurance Program would keep kids healthy and unlock dollars available to Idaho that cover most of the cost.
Q: 6. What changes to income, sales and property tax policies would you support?
Idahoans deserve fair, responsible tax policies. I support: increasing the homeowner’s exemption, increasing property tax assistance for seniors and veterans, allowing schools to charge developers impact fees to cover new school construction, making the child tax credit fully accessible to families with low to moderate wages, reviewing sales and income tax exemptions, and reversing recent revenue cuts that benefit top income earners and corporations and penalize some middle-class families.
Q: 7. What measures do you support in updating Idaho’s voting processes?
We should do everything possible to increase access to the ballot, including automatic voter registration. Idaho voters should be able to request mail-in ballots online in every election (not just during a pandemic) as opposed to being required to mail a form to the county clerk. I also support open primaries so that voters can participate even if they do not want to affiliate with a political party.
Q: 8. What are the biggest transportation priorities in Idaho for the next 20 years, and how should the state prepare now to fund those projects?
We have not kept up with maintenance on our roads and bridges and are ill-prepared to meet future transportation needs. Idaho is one of only two states that do not fund public transit. That must change to address growth and reduce congestion. Our gas tax is not tied to inflation and must be adjusted periodically. We are overdue in making this adjustment. An increase in commercial trucking registration fees is necessary to generate revenue proportional to the wear and tear these trucks cause.
Q: 9. Do you support local option sales tax authority for all cities and counties?
I support local option tax authority. This allows local governments to propose projects while voters make the ultimate decision. Cities and counties need this tool to drive investment in many of the key building blocks of economic development. Transportation is a huge barrier to residents seeking the best employment opportunities. We are also seeing increased road congestion in the Treasure Valley. Local option tax authority can help us address these challenges and protect our quality of life.